What a hot week in Alexandria.
With temperatures hovering in the mid-90s, the week started with a power outage at a 17-story apartment building in Landmark area. The outage lasted five days and residents had to find accommodations until the building reopened Friday afternoon.
The D.C.-based Call Your Mother Deli chain is expanding to Old Town, as first reported by the Washington Business Journal.
The company, which was founded in 2018, reportedly signed a lease at the 4,500-square-foot building at 128 N. Pitt Street, and is looking for electrical contractors. The 1940s-era building has been vacant for two years since Helen Olivia Floral Design moved to Del Ray.
Simon Pearce Glassware store opens Friday in Old Town — “Vermont-based glassware-maker Simon Pearce will open its doors Friday at their new store in Old Town Alexandria at 721 King St., according to a spokeswoman for the company. The space was formerly home to Papyrus, the greeting cards and gift wrap store.” [Alexandria Living]
Family raises $70K+ in GoFundMe campaign for mother with cancer — “Our lives changed forever three weeks ago when our mom was unexpectedly diagnosed with an advanced cancer known as metastatic adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis took us completely by surprise. Three months ago, she was walking five miles a day, eating a pescetarian diet, going on her own day trips. She started reporting shortness of breath and fatigue in late March, but doctors were unable to diagnose these symptoms as cancer until early June.” [GoFundMe]
Alexandria boxer Troy Isley to compete in Olympics — “Troy Isley, 22, is a middleweight boxer from Alexandria, a T.C. Williams High School alumnus and part of the Alexandria Boxing Club. He secured his spot on the Olympic team on June 7, USA Boxing confirmed.” [Patch]
Alexandria Police helped chase down suspect Friday — “Alert:: APD assisted PG County Police and Fairfax County Police with chasing down a suspect. The chase originated in PG County and came through our city via Fairfax County. No injuries to report. The suspect was taken into custody.” [Twitter]
After numerous delays, the owner of a controversial Halal slaughterhouse says that he will finally open by July.
Abdul Mused, the owner of Saba Live Poultry at 3225 Colvin Street, says that he’s been held up waiting for equipment to be delivered to the new slaughterhouse.
After two years in development, Misha’s Coffee opened its second location in Old Town over the weekend.
The new shop is located in a prime spot next to Waterfront Park at 6 Prince Street, and around the corner to Big Wheel Bikes and Chadwicks. The two-level coffee shop will also feature beer from the Port City Brewing Co. and cider from Lost Dog Cidery — as the final license hurdles are cleared.
Goodie’s Frozen Custard & Treats officially opened its doors in the the 1930s-era ice house at 200 Commerce Street over Memorial Day weekend.
The frozen custard shop is now open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., or whenever they sell out. In the meantime, owner Brandon Byrd’s ice cream truck “Gigi” will be used for special events.
In the same shopping center where locally beloved Atlantis Pizzeria and Family Restaurant recently slipped into history and myth like its namesake, a new pizza restaurant has opened to fill the void.
Regional franchise &pizza announced on May 20 that its Bradlee Shopping Center location at 3690 King Street was now open — along with a kind of bizarre, rambling message about the “arch of history.”
Bob and Edith’s Diner officially announced plans to open this fall inside the shell of what had been Ernie’s Original Crab House at 1743 King Street, the company said in a press release.
The new location is the sixth Bob & Edith’s Diner — a tiny franchise that started in Arlington in 1969 –and the second in Alexandria, with another one at 5918 North King’s Highway. According to the press release, the diner will be open 24/7.
Fuel shortage hits Alexandria gas stations — “A Shell station on Duke Street in Alexandria had run out of all grades of gasoline. The Mobil station next door “got lucky,” an employee said, and received a shipment of fuel overnight after running out late Tuesday. The line at Mobil spilled out onto Duke Street just west of Telegraph Road.” [Alexandria Living]
Alexandria’s COVID-19 percent positivity falls to lowest level — “We continue to watch the percent positivity of COVID-19 tests. Alexandria’s 7-day average positivity is now 2.9%. This is our lowest rate ever. Only 3 other Virginia health districts are lower. Wear your mask, get your vaccine and let’s be done with this.” [Twitter]
ACPS enrollment goes down — “In September 2020 — the start of this school year — enrollment was at just 15,588, a decrease of 3 percent. Since September, ACPS has gained about 300 students, but had ACPS enrollment continued at its average growth rate of 2.86 percent per year (since 2014), enrollment would have been 16,521 students this academic year.” [Alexandria Living]
Goodwin House and George Mason University partner for memory study — “The study will involve Goodwin House Alexandria and Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads residents, as well as seniors who participate in Goodwin House at Home.” [Zebra]
